Adspace Mall Network Becomes Largest Digital Mall Network in Nation with Expansion into 100th Location

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Adspace Networks turned 100 today by turning on its digital signs in the Chesterfield Mall in St. Louis -- its 100th mall location -- to become the largest digital mall network in the country.

The Adspace Mall Network is a national network of digital displays called "Smart Screens" located throughout select Class A shopping malls across the U.S. The network's footprint now consists of more than 1,300 screens in 39 of the top DMAs, with complete coverage of the top 10 DMA's. The network now reaches 100 million viewers every four weeks ... a true national medium.

"When our management team first came on board less than three years ago, we were in about 20 malls and we were told by the media community that we needed to be in 100 malls before we were considered a 'national' medium," said Dominick Porco, chairman and CEO, Adspace Networks. "We worked tirelessly with our partners and investors to reach that goal and are proud to be among the first in the out-of-home industry to be considered a national media buy because we reach more people than most cable networks."

Adspace is also a founding member of the Out-of-home Video Advertising Bureau (OVAB), an organization recently formed to help the advertising community maximize the value from powerful media platforms such as the Adspace Mall Network.

"I joined the OVAB Agency Advisory Board because I believe that digital outdoor is growing in exciting ways," said Alec Gerster, CEO of Initiative. "The fact that Adspace is moving beyond the 100 mall milestone is one more indication of the importance of digital outdoor."

The expanded national footprint has already attracted a significant number of national advertisers, including AT&T, Macy's, Lionsgate, and many others.

The short lead time to get on air, higher-than-average mall traffic in December, and a tight scatter television market, has also attracted Hollywood studios promoting holiday DVD releases such as New Line Home Entertainment's "Rush Hour 3" and "Hairspray."

"You can run your television commercial spots on the Smart Screens," explains Matt Lasorsa, executive vice president of marketing, New Line Home Entertainment. "The strategy makes sense because teens are in the malls."

One key reason for the accelerated expansion has been mall operator acceptance of the network's anchor programming model called "Today's Top Ten," which shows the 10 best deals in the mall each week. Over 300 participating retailers submit their best deal of the week including original prices and total savings. Adspace then determines the 10 best deals for each mall and produces and runs 12-second spots for each special, at no charge. Each week there are 10 featured specials running in a six minute loop with local and national advertising. As a resource to the malls, the Adspace Mall Network also highlights current mall events in two 15-second spots within the loop.

A recent Nielsen Media Research study of shoppers found the Adspace Mall Network helpful when navigating through the mall. In fact, 77 percent of Adspace viewers agree that the Smart Screens are a good thing for malls to offer their customers, and 80 percent said they would look at them on their next visit. The study further showed that nearly 50 percent of mall shoppers viewed Adspace content, and average commercial recall was 34 percent.

Adspace's 100th mall, the Chesterfield Mall, in Chesterfield, Missouri, was recently acquired by CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. .

"This is the 23rd mall we have installed with Adspace," said Jerry Sink, Senior vice president, mall management, CBL. "The network adds tremendous value to our tenants and their retail customers by featuring the top sales items in the mall each week, and gives us a medium to communicate mall events directly to our customers."

"The enthusiasm of our affiliate mall operators about the 'Today's Top Ten' program has helped the Adspace Mall Network solidify our stance as the largest in-mall digital network in the country," said Mr. Porco. "There has also been great support in the advertising community with more than 350 national and local advertisers on our network including entertainment companies, cable networks and retailers."

About Adspace Networks, Inc.

Adspace Networks, Inc., http://www.adspacenetworks.com/, owns and operates the Adspace Mall Network, the largest in-mall digital video advertising network in the country. Currently located throughout 100 Class A malls across the United States, the network consists of over 1,300, eight and nine-foot-tall plasma screens -- called "Smart Screens." The Smart Screen displays show programming which combines a mix of the top ten sale items in the mall, mall events, and local and national advertising. The network reaches 100 million affluent (source: Directory of Major Malls(R)) consumers each month, and is particularly effective at reaching teens, young adults, and women. Adspace is also a charter member of the Out-of-Home Video Advertising Bureau (OVAB), an organization that will help provide standards and best practices for the burgeoning out-of-home video advertising industry.

CONTACT: Anne Donohoe / Christa Conte KCSA Worldwide 212.896.1261 / 212.896.1238 adonohoe@kcsa.com / cconte@kcsa.com